[VanessaBett]

I need to start searching for a therapist but I am not sure what to call the kind of therapy that I am hoping for.
I am looking for someone long term. Possibly very long term.
I want to give this person my entire life story from my earliest memories until the present. I want someone who can help me process the enormous sadness and guilt I feel over the recent death of my last living parent. I want someone who is warm and welcoming

I don't want a therapist who is going to give me a bunch of advice on what I can do to change my situation. I am a pretty self-motivated person and I am already aware of those kinds of things.

What kind of therapy would this be?

Thanks in advance!

[Daisy Dead Petals]

If you don't want to focus on change, definitely stay away from CBT and other behavioral therapies. A humanistic and client-centered or person-centered approach would likely be better suited to your needs.

[growlycat]

Psychodynamic therapy explores your history in depth and you won't get overt advice unless you want it. Some psychodynamic t's are very warm others not so much. Interview some and see

I would also recommend looking into psychodynamic and person-centered approaches. Maybe a therapist who works with psychoanalytic concepts if you are interested in looking at how the past influences your current personality and emotional patterns.

I personally like an eclectic therapist best who is trained in a variety of approaches and can use them as needed, tailored to individual and as the therapy unfolds. If you are an independent and open-minded person, perhaps stay away from a therapist that is overly dogmatic and married to one single concept and modality. Use your own feelings and intuition about the therapist when you meet them. I am a very self-motivated and independent person and like a T best whose thinking and communication style is similar to mine.

[1stepatatime]

It sounds like perhaps you would benefit from psychodynamic therapy. As others have said, the therapist will go back to your earliest memories. Some of these therapists are blank slate , some not. I would shop around until you find a good fit.. good luck to you!

[BudFox]

Originally Posted by VanessaBett

I want to give this person my entire life story from my earliest memories until the present. I want someone who can help me process the enormous sadness and guilt I feel over the recent death of my last living parent. I want someone who is warm and welcoming

That sounds like what a close friend would do, ideally anyway. I know it's common to take such pain to therapists It's what I did (death of last living parent, sibling, beloved pet, loss of health, and more). But it either did not help or made me feel worse. I feel better when talking about this kind of pain with someone who actually cares about me. Of course, it's not always easy to find such a person. I now find it odd that people take deeply personal stuff like this to a stranger. What sort of processing are you looking for and why do you think you need therapy?

Just some thoughts. Sorry for your loss.